The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 325: A Shocking Proposal

Chapter 325: A Shocking Proposal

Rafe’s eyes widened, unable to tear his gaze away. Before him, the Mederian Princess wore a thin, sheer silver dress that barely covered anything.

The contours of her alluring body were visible to his eyes. The healer was speechless, his mind unable to process the scene before him.

"You... You don’t like it?" she asked, sensing his astonishment.

"W-Why are you like this?" Rafe stammered, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and confusion.

"Well... it’s a gift from Jessy. Also... we are sharing the bed tonight," Callis replied shyly, her cheeks tinged with a blush.

Rafe swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He understood her intentions but never expected his wife to be this daring.

"I... I didn’t mean that..." he managed to say, his voice stammering.

"You don’t want to?" she asked, her red ruby eyes gleaming with hope.

Callis rose from the bed and approached Rafe. The healer instinctively stepped back, but the Mederian Princess quickly caught his waist, preventing him from retreating further.

"Am I not beautiful?" the Mederian Princess asked, her voice like a soothing melody that almost melted Rafe’s resolve.

His feet felt unsteady as she touched his chest, her exposed cleavage right before his eyes. The healer’s face flushed red, and he swore he almost had a nosebleed.

"Don’t you find me attractive?" she inquired again, her gaze searching his.

"Callis... Umm... I... I promised your brother..." Rafe tried to explain.

"Brother isn’t here. We don’t have to tell him," she whispered into his ear, her warm breath sending shivers down his spine.

Callis’s hand trailed to his, pulling him gently, guiding the healer towards the bed. Like being caught in a spell, Rafe followed suit. He allowed himself to be pushed onto the soft sheets by his wife.

Now lying on the bed, Rafe found himself beside Callis, her hand rubbing his arm and then caressing his face. Their bodies were dangerously close.

"Rafe..." she called his name, snapping him back to reality.

"Callis!" the healer exclaimed, quickly distancing himself.

"What’s the matter?" she asked.

"We... we shouldn’t!" Rafe said, his face burning red again.

"Why not? We’re husband and wife. Aren’t we supposed to do this?" Callis responded, confused.

"Just... not... not now," he managed to say, barely restraining himself.

"You don’t want me," Callis said sadly.

Frustrated, she turned around, distancing herself from him.

"No! I didn’t mean that!" Rafe hurriedly reassured her, reaching out to pull her close again and turning her to face him.

"Then why are you rejecting me?" she questioned, her eyes filled with hurt.

"Callis... I..." Rafe sighed, trying to find the right words to express himself.

"I guess I’m not good enough for you," she sulked, her voice laced with self-doubt.

"That’s not true! You are my perfect wife. You are kind, beautiful, and loving too! It’s just that..." Rafe paused.

"Is it because you’re worried that brother would hurt you?" Callis interrupted, searching for his answer.

"Not really," he replied.

"Then what is it? If you keep refusing, how will we ever have a baby?" she questioned in a frustrated tone.

"A baby?" the healer asked, surprised by her mention of it.

"Didn’t you hear what mother said? She’s hoping for us to have a child soon."

"Callis, listen..." Rafe spoke gently, his hand carefully rubbing her head. "I want to do it when we are both ready, not just out of responsibility. You are my wife, someone I respect and cherish. I don’t see you solely as a means to bear children. When the time is right, and we both feel ready, we can seriously discuss expanding our family. Let’s not rush into things for now."

Callis sighed, her disappointment palpable.

"I’m sorry if I let you down. But please bear with me until we sort everything out. Will you wait for me, my wife?" the healer asked.

Slowly, the Mederian Princess relented to his request with a nod.

"Thank you. I appreciate that."

"Then, can we at least cuddle tonight? You won’t mind, would you?" she asked, hopeful in her tone.

Rafe nodded in agreement.

"All right. That will do for now."

Callis’s face beamed with joy, and Rafe enveloped her body in an embrace, careful with her injury. Her body moulded against his. The healer could feel the gentle warmth of her form against his chest, their connection intensifying with each passing moment.

As Rafe closed his eyes, conflicting emotions boiled within him, causing an inner struggle. He questioned his decision to fulfil her request, feeling a pang of regret yet unable to retract it as he witnessed the sheer happiness on his wife’s face. The position she lay in seemed to comfort her, and he couldn’t bear taking that solace away from her.

With a tender touch, Rafe patted Callis’s back, gently rocking her in his arms while battling to compose himself. Deep within, he grappled with his physical desires, fighting against the temptation that arose from holding such a stunning figure in his embrace.

Taking a peek, Rafe caught sight of Callis’s enticing curves up close, and he swallowed hard, inhaling a deep breath to steady himself. His hand carefully adjusted the blanket, ensuring she was snug and covered, and then he continued the rhythmic motion of patting her back.

The night stretched out before him, promising to be both enduring and challenging.

***

A gentle knock resounded, and Armel entered the room after receiving permission. The teenager’s gaze fell upon Elis, already sound asleep on the bed, while Kiev occupied a chair nearby, his long legs stretched out on the footrest.

"Forgive me for interrupting, Your Highness. This is the concoction prepared by Mr Amares," the teenager conveyed, holding a tray in his hands.

"Place it on the table. Elis is already asleep. I’ll ensure she takes it tomorrow," instructed the Mederian Prince calmly.

Armel complied, carefully setting the tray on the table. With a respectful bow to Kiev, the teenager turned to leave.

Suddenly, a groan emanated from the bed, instantly capturing their attention. Elis tossed her head, moaning as if tormented by pain.

"No! No! Stop it! Let me go! Let me go!" she cried out fearfully, tears streaming down her cheeks as her head thrashed restlessly.

In an instant, Kiev sprang to his feet and rushed to the bedside. He endeavoured to soothe the maid, but her movements grew more erratic as if engaged in a desperate struggle for survival.

"Elis, calm down! Calm down!" the Mederian Prince implored, but the maid remained trapped in her haunting nightmare.

Despite his fervent efforts, she refused to awaken, continuing to weep inconsolably. In an attempt to alleviate her distress, Kiev sat beside her, placing a comforting hand upon her head, infusing his magic to ease her suffering.

Her body reacted positively and began to calm down. In her unconscious state, the maid reached out and tightly gripped the Mederian Prince’s other hand.

"Don’t leave me! I’m scared!" she cried out in her sleep.

"I won’t! You are my soulmate! I’ll never let you go!" Kiev whispered, his words reaching Armel’s ears, who stood witness to the scene, eyes widened in astonishment.

Suddenly aware that the teenager was still there, the Mederian Prince fixed him with a menacing stare.

"If you breathe a word to anyone that she’s my soulmate, I will kill you!"

"I... I won’t! Please spare me!" stammered Armel, trembling in fear.

"Leave!"

In a hasty retreat, the teenager exited the room, his heart pounding with trepidation.

***

The morning arrived, bringing relief to Rafe, who had managed to maintain control throughout the night and slept peacefully beside Callis.

With their impending return journey in mind, they both freshened up and prepared for the day ahead. Once ready, the healer and his wife ventured out and made their way to the dining room.

"Good morning!" greeted Eva, seated at the table alongside Louis.

Jason and Nick passed by the couple. They also approached and greeted them, then took their seats at the table.

"Good morning. Where are Kiev and Elis?" Rafe inquired.

"Oh, they haven’t come down yet," replied Eva.

"Not yet?" the healer queried, his curiosity piqued.

The maid attending to Eva arrived and placed the food on the table. Eva turned to her and asked, "Have you checked on our guests this morning?"

"Yes, Mrs Amares. I went up and knocked, but there was no response. It seemed they were still sleeping, so I left to avoid disturbing them," the maid informed.

"Perhaps Lady Elisabeth is still tired, and Kiev may be as well after taking care of her. Let them rest," suggested Eva.

"Yes, she’s pregnant. She surely needs to lie down more," said Jason with a smile.

"She’s not pregnant!" the healer responded. Then, seeing his family members’ curious eyes, he cleared his throat and amended, "I mean... it’s not confirmed. We have yet to do proper tests."

"Don’t worry about it. Everyone was already talking about it last night. It was obvious, Rafe. In a few months, Lady Elisabeth’s stomach would surely show," Nick interjected.

Rafe closed his mouth, realising that it was pointless to continue the discussion. He pushed the thought of Elis’s supposed pregnancy to the back of his mind and began to redirect his thoughts towards other matters—Kiev was typically an early riser, making it unusual for him to still be in bed at this hour.

Rafe made up his mind, saying, "I better go and check. If Elis is still unwell, I should examine her once more."

"Do you want me to accompany you?" offered Callis.

"No need. Stay here and have your breakfast. I’ll join you shortly," assured the healer.

The Mederian Princess nodded as Rafe hurried to the first floor, where Kiev and Elis’s room was located. He knocked on the door several times, but there was no response. Growing increasingly concerned, he pushed the door open, relieved to find it unlocked as he had requested the previous night.

Stepping inside, the healer scanned the room and noticed the vacant chair where Kiev was supposed to sleep. His gaze then fell upon the bed, and what he saw left him in shock.

On the bed, Kiev lay, embracing Elis in his arms, both of them still soundly asleep.

"Oh, my God! What the h*ll is this?!"

Rafe couldn’t believe his eyes, and his exclamation shattered the tranquillity.

The maid, awakened by his voice, rubbed her bleary eyes, disoriented. She was taken aback to find the healer standing near the bed, his expression perplexed.

Suddenly, she felt the weight of a mass against her body and noticed a strong arm draped across her waist. Turning her head, she realised Kiev was lying beside her, his eyes barely open in response to Rafe’s shout.

"Kiev!" Elis exclaimed, startled.

She exerted all her strength to push his arm away and quickly leapt out of bed in alarm. The Mederian Prince rubbed his eyes, looking around with a hint of exhaustion evident beneath them, a testament to his tiring night.

Protective instincts surged within the healer as he grabbed Elis’s hand and positioned himself in front of her, shielding her from Kiev.

"What did you do to her?!" Rafe shouted at the Mederian Prince, his voice brimming with anger.

Kiev lifted his upper body, sitting up and maintaining an air of calmness despite the healer’s reprimand. His charming appearance remained unaffected, even with slightly messy hair and attire.

He ran a hand through his long, silky locks before buttoning his tunic, covering his previously exposed, well-sculpted chest.

"You sc*mbag! I should never have trusted you!" Rafe yelled angrily.

"Shut up! Nothing happened!" Kiev responded sternly.

"Nothing?!" Rafe retorted. "I saw you embracing her on the bed with my own eyes! Do you think I’m st*pid enough not to know what had occurred?"

Tensions escalated, and the room filled with a charged atmosphere as the confrontation continued.

"She was having a nightmare, and I had to calm her with my magic. I spent the whole night taking care of her and ended up asleep beside her," the Mederian Prince explained.

"Lies! You have taken advantage of her! Not only are you sinful before God, but you have also gone against the law! I will report this matter to the authorities!" Rafe reprimanded, his anger unabated.

"I didn’t lie!" Kiev’s voice grew louder. "If you don’t believe me, ask Armel. He witnessed what happened last night!"

"Liar!" Rafe scoffed, unconvinced.

Unsatisfied with the accusation, Kiev stood up and summoned Armel with a bell ring. Soon, the teenager came in a rush.

"You called, Your Highness?" Armel asked upon arriving. This was the first time Kiev had suddenly rung for him throughout their visit to Rivendelle.

"Tell him what you saw last night when you came to deliver the concoction," the Mederian Prince instructed.

"Last night?" Armel hesitated, momentarily recalling Kiev’s stern warning about the matter of soulmate.

"Yes, just tell him what you witnessed only," Kiev reiterated.

The teenager quickly grasped the meaning behind the Mederian Prince’s words.

"Ah... Yes! I was about to leave after placing the concoction on the table. His Highness was resting on the chair at that time. Then, I noticed Miss Cant—I mean, Lady Elisabeth having a nightmare. She was tossing, turning, and crying. His Highness tried to wake her up, but she continued to thrash about in distress. So, he sat beside her and placed his palm on her head. I saw a glow of magic transmitted from him to her, and she gradually calmed down," Armel explained.

"I had to be in close proximity to infuse mana into her body continuously. Every time I stopped my magic, her nightmare would resume, so I had no choice but to lie down beside her. I had just fallen asleep when you burst in and yelled at me," Kiev added. "If you still don’t believe me, you can examine her body. You’re a healer, and you can tell the difference."

"I don’t believe you! You could’ve perfectly erased any evidence and easily manipulated the circumstances to your advantage with your magic abilities!" Rafe stubbornly persisted, doubting Kiev’s explanation.

"Magic can never be used for crime or to harm innocent people, and I don’t possess the capabilities you’ve accused me of!" Kiev determinedly pressed his defence.

Still doubting the Mederian Prince, Rafe turned to Elis, his expression filled with concern.

"Are you all right?" he asked. "Do you feel any pain?"

Elis blinked, contemplating the situation. She looked down at her body, searching for any signs of violation. There were no marks or visible proof of any wrongdoing. In fact, she felt light and unharmed. She then tried to recall the events of the night.

Her mind revisited the nightmare she had experienced—the knights of Count of Abinair assaulting her, forcing a raw liver into her mouth. She had desperately run from them, their sinister laughter echoing in the dark room.

Just when she had cried out for help, a strong arm reached out to her, saving her from the torment. The man’s soothing voice reassured her, promising protection and safety.

The room then brightened, and the terrifying images dissipated. Elis’s fear subsided, and the strong arm continued to hold her. In her dream, Kiev had embraced and protected her, his calming voice dispelling all her anxieties.

"I... I’m fine," Elis finally spoke. "I had a nightmare..."

Rafe sought confirmation, asking, "You had a nightmare?"

Elis nodded.

"Yes... Then... I dreamt of Kiev... He... he saved me from the nightmare," she revealed.

Kiev chimed in, "It’s the effect of magic. I don’t know the specifics of her nightmare, but my mana could seep into her unconscious mind, shielding her from its torment."

Rafe chose to ignore Kiev’s explanation but continued to focus on the maid.

"Are you absolutely certain that nothing untoward occurred?" he inquired.

"Yes, I’m sure," the maid replied confidently.

"Then why did you exclaim upon waking up?" Rafe probed further.

"I was surprised to find him next to me. I didn’t expect it. But I assure you, I am unharmed," the maid clarified.

The healer breathed a sigh of relief, although a lingering dissatisfaction remained on his face. He turned his scowl towards Kiev.

"While your intention may have been to provide comfort, sharing a bed with an unmarried woman is still considered inappropriate according to Cassian law and customs," the healer admonished. "You should have called me instead of taking matters into your own hands!"

Kiev countered, defending his actions.

"Calling you would have caused unnecessary commotion, and it was already late at night. If I had done so, we wouldn’t be able to embark on our return journey today!"

Rafe remained steadfast in his stance.

"Regardless of the excuses, what is wrong is still wrong. Due to this, I hold you responsible for your actions!"

"Fine! I am unafraid, and I am a man of honour! I will take responsibility for what I did, even though I did nothing wrong!" Kiev declared resolutely.

Rafe narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on the Mederian Prince.

"Do you understand what you must do?" he questioned sternly.

"I do," Kiev replied, his gaze shifting towards the maid.

His subsequent decision surprised everyone else present.

"Elis, I am willing to marry you."